Pakistan vs Australia 1st Test: Khawaja misses out on century as visitors cut down hosts' lead to 205 runs

Australia's top order batters made full use of the placid conditions in Rawalpindi to end Day 3 on 271 for the loss of two wickets.

Usman Khawaja missed out on scoring a century in his first Test in the country of his birth as Australia's top order batters cut down Pakistan's lead to 205 runs on Day 3 in Rawalpindi. Khawaja scored 97 in a 156-run opening partnership with David Warner before falling to Sajid Khan. Bad light and heavy clouds then brought an early closure to the third day’s play, 21 overs ahead of schedule as Australia batters prospered on a grassless wicket.

Warner and Khawaja put up an opening partnership of 156 runs. (AP)

The visitors were on 271/2 as they walked off with Marnus Labuschagne (69) and Steve Smith (24) batting for the third wicket.

Pakistan had earlier declared on 476/4 in what is their first match at home against Australia in 24 years. Australia, however, were also able to take full advantage of the placid wicket in Rawalpindi to come to a point where they can not only comfortably avoid a follow-on but even target a first innings lead.

Labuschagne, who hit nine boundaries, raised his half century under overcast conditions in a shortened last session. Pakistan's only productive period with the ball came when its spinners claimed the wickets of Khawaja and Warner in the second session.

Khawaja had escaped a second chance when on 62 with wicketkeeper Mohammad Rizwan unable to grab a sharp chance off a reverse sweep against left-arm spinner Nauman Ali (1-49).

However, he attempted the same extravagant shot again against Nauman and was caught close to the wicket when Pakistan successfully called for a television review against onfield umpire Aleem Dar’s not out decision. Replays suggested Khawaja had gloved the ball as it ballooned to Imam-ul-Haq at short leg.

Khawaja’s entertaining knock lasted just over three and a half hours and came off 159 balls featuring 15 boundaries as Australia scored at a rate of 3.71 run per over on Day 3.

Earlier, Khawaja and David Warner (68) shared a rapid 156-run opening-wicket stand as Pakistan's pace attack struggled like its Australian counterpart earlier and couldn't get any lateral movement.

Warner exchanged pleasant smiles with Pakistan fast bowlers Shaheen Afridi and Naseem Shah, who tested the left-hander with some short pitched deliveries, but the left-hander exerted his authority with some exquisite drives on both sides of the wicket.

Warner hit 12 boundaries before he was clean bowled by offspinner Sajid Khan (1-94) from a delivery that skidded off the pitch as the left-hander tried to cut off the backfoot and missed the line of the ball.

Earlier, resuming on 5-0, both Australian left-handed openers were untroubled by the early pace of Afridi and Naseem and didn’t let the two specialist spinners — Sajid and Nauman — get settled. The duo smashed 23 boundaries in the first session when Pakistan bowled 32 overs.

Pakistan came close to dismissing Khawaja on 22, but Fawad Alam dropped a simple chance at gully in Afridi’s fifth over. Khawaja added insult to injury by taking three consecutive boundaries against the left-arm fast bowler.

Khawaja raised his fifty off 67 balls with eight fours while Warner raised his fifty from 86 deliveries with nine boundaries after he smashed offspinner Iftikhar Ahmed for three in his first over.

Pakistan batters Azhar Ali (185) and Imam-ul-Haq (157) had scored hundreds before Pakistan declared its first innings.